city to try and pass a tax on sugary drinks. supervisor scott weiner officially submitted his plan to place a two cent per ounce tax on sodas and the plan would target the alarming rise of diabetes among kids. supervisor estimates the tax could raise $31 million a year for rec programs. similar tax proposals in richmond and los angeles failed following lobbying by the beverage industry. the industry says the tax would unfairly affect poor communities. >>> from local ballot issues to the statewide issues, california's initiatives allow voters to make laws. you know that. many of those hot-button issues that we vote on, but are they good tools for making policy? and how many of us actually understand the initiatives we vote on? let's bring in nbc bay area's political analyst, larry gerston. good to see you. we have a legislator and governor but many people enjoy having the direct vote to pass laws, right? >> yes, scary how much, or how little they know about it. the voters adopted the idea in 1911 when the legislature was literall